Device for directing the flow of gas from a gas supply to a gas receiver



Dec. 13, l 92 7.

J. F. KEY

NG THE FLOW OF GAS FROM A GAS SUPPLY TO A GAS RECEIVER DEVICE FOR DIRECTI Filed oct .17. 1\925 www TIRE PRESSURE LBS.

Patented ec.. 13, 1927.

tll'lllll PATE .'tTFlQE.

JAMES FRANCIS KEY, OF SIERRA MADRE, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO FIRST TRUST AND SAVINGS BANK OF IASADENA, TRUSTEE, OF PASADENA, CALIFORNIA.

DEVICE FOR DIEECTING THE FLOW' OF GAS Application filed October `1'?, 192B.

This invention relates to a device for directing theflow ot gas from a gas supplyto a gas receiver, and in the preferred embodiment'reters to a device for inlating automobile tires, although it is not intended to limit the invention to such use as the invention is adapted for various other uses as will be apparent from a description of the device and itsmodeot operation hereinafter contained.

Inmy PatentNo. 1,444,188, patented February 6, 1923, there is described a device for inlating automobileV tires including a valve and pressure indicating unit. The pressure indicator is adapted to indicate the pressure. in the tire when they air supply is out ott'. lilith such device, the pressure indicator1 Vreflects the Vair pressure in the tire or another gas or air receiver only when the air or gas is turned oit theV device, when the air supply is turned on the device and the air forced under high pressure through the saine thel airindicator reflects the pressure in the air supply, since the pressure. of the air supply is customarily between 175 pounds gage to 200 pounds pressure. This compelled the indicator member to be constructed suilicin Aently strong to withstand said pressure and when the indicator' member isV constructed ci" sufficient strength to withstand this high pressure the indicator member is comparatively inaccurate ttor determining the comparatively lower pressure of the tire. More over in such ar device thereis continually received a. quantity oi lubricant or lubricating oil which. works into the pressure indicating unit and effects the operation and lite ot said unit.

One object of this invention is to'providc a device tor directing a flow ot a gas from :i gas supply to a ga-s receiver, which device provided with means tor establishing a .zone ot gas pressure in communication with the gas receiveithrough the same conduit as the body of the gas in said device, which zone maintained while the air is flowing tl'nough the device at a substantially lower re than the body ot'the gas in the 1e, whereby such vZone may be connected pressure indicating unit or other device i@ actuated by pressure tor controlling the operation ottl the device without such indica- Y tor or equivalentunit being sublected to the high pr of vthe gas supply` unit and vvisiting suoli. a unit as may FROM A GAS SUPPLY TO A GAS RECEIVER.

Serial No. 669,156.

reiiect or be acted upon by the pressure in the gas receiver when the gas supply is cut oli".

A further object of the invention is to provide a device for directing the flow ot gas from a gas supply into a gas receiver, with a pressure operated memberv which is controlled by a Zone oit gas pressure in communication with the gas receiver through the same conduit as the gas flowing into the receiver, which zone is maintained substantially independent of the pressure in said gas supply at a pressure substantially correponding to the pressure of the gas receiver, to the end that the device may be continually employed for directing the flow ot into the gas receiver and throughout the flow ot said gas, said pressure controlled member will continually react only according to the pressure of the gas receiver.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device :tor directing the flow of gas Yfrom a. gas supply to a gas receiver, which device is provided with means for maintaining a zone of'pressure corresponding to the pressure in the gas receiver and communicating with the gas receiver through the same conduit vas the gas flowing to the receiver, and in which said pressure will be' maintained in said zone even when the flow is'nonpulsating, when a substantially higher pressure than the pressure in the gas receiver is sent through the device, and when said conduit in communication with said zone is at a substantially higher pressure than the pressure in said receiver.

A turther object of the invention is to provide a forno ot tire intlating device by which a tire may be in'dated -trom an air i'iressiu'e source which Vsends lubricant along mainly in Vconduit or hose 6 is attached thereto.

operation of the device the hose or conduit longitudinal vertical section of the preferred embodiment of the invention` 2 is an end elevation ot Figure l.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal vertice section of the means for forming the desired low pressure zone.

Fig'. el is a vertical section on the line L /l ol2 Fig. l.

Fig, 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line 5 5 oi Fig. l.

Fig. 6 illustrates the construction of a inodied torni of a operated member which may be employed in place ot' the gas operated member or indicatinggage shown in Figures l to 5. inclusive, and

Fig. 7 is a di un illustrating the change in pressure applied to tb gas operated member Awith different pressures present in the `gras receiver or tire.

fin" the drawings, the device comprises a body l having a tubular lnoiection 2 to which is threaded a 'uc-se nipple il for conneeting;` an air supply conduit flvvhich is to be connected. to a gas supply such as a gas pumpv or tanl (not shown). fr seond hose nipple 5 is threaded into tbe bed;4 l() at the opposite end oit the bodjv and preferably parallcl'to the hose nipple 2 and a iiexibrle J,n

leads to the @as receiver not shoivnl.

Above the hose nipple 5 the body l has a bore 7 which longitudinally parallel With the hose nipple 5 and. in Which is positioned a gas operated member 8; ln the embodi ment of the invention illustrated in Fi'y res l to 5, inclusive, the member 8 is in l'orrn ont a pressure gage, said er having` a tubular casing' 9 in vvhich is sidably mounted an indicator sleeve l0 adapted to be translated by an eapan ion element and bearing' indieating chars4 ers or figures on one or more sides oi its peripheral surface to be exposed beyond the boily vfall and indicate diiierent degrees oli pressure applied to operated member. S. ,.fi coil spring ll is positioned Within the sleeve l0, one'end thereof being attached to a spring` anchor member l2 fixed to theoutm end of the sleeve l() by a pin i3 as shoivn in Figure l. The opposite end of the spring' ll is fixed to a threaded busi ing' lll screvv7 threaded into the inner end of the sleeve l0. A rubber expansion tube extends into the coil spring; 19 and has a closed outer end lo and a flanged inner end 17. The flanged end i7 seats on periorated disc 18 Which, in turn, engaged by a bushing 19 screw-threaded into the most end of the sleeve l0. The outer end of theV sleeve l0 a refess 20 in a. bushingr 21 threaded into the outer end oi, the longitudinal bore 7 oit the body l.

In operation, compressed air enterine' Athe expansion tube l5 expands slid tube to en- 'gage its side Walls with each convolution of the spring ll and elongates the lube l5 to forcibly translate the indicating` sleeve l() outwardly to varying degrees depfnding upon the pressure supplied thereto. ',lhc

spring il being anchored to the threaded `formed to provide a valve seat 23 With which cooperates a ball valvepZlln as a main gas supplvv valve. The ball 2l is yieldingly maintained against the valve seat 23 by a coil spring 25, which seats in a recess 26 formed in a plug member Q7 screw-threaded into the body l in alineinent With the chamber l'nvvardly beyond the main valve 241 the body is bored to provide a second chamber 28 `which con'nnunicates through a horizontal passage 29 and vertical passages 8O with the bore ot the lhose nipple 5.

'lbe means for operating the main gas supply valve El comprises a stem 3l aligned with the chamber 22 with its upper end eX'- tcndini; exteriorly of the body l and positioned for engagement with the lever $32 pivoted on the body l at To control the condition wherein a gas receiver' had been overcharged, l provide an independent means for exhausting `as from the gas receiver until the pressure therein is properly reduced, su'rh means comprieing` a chamber 34 extending laterally through the body l at the intersection ot the horizon tal passage 29 and vertical passage A plug 2lb' is threaded into the bodj,r l at one end ot the chamber 2l and a plug:v 36 is threaded. into the body .l at the opposed end of said chamber 341-, S? indicates a ball valve which engages a valve seat formed on the inner end ot aplug 35. This valve S7. is engaged by a slotted stein') which lits loosely in a, bore ret() of said plug` 35 and extends beyond the Wall ot the body l. The valve Si' is evenlyv held on its seat 38 by a spring' all seated in a recess @i221 in the plug; Sti. hen it is desired to release gas troni the gas re"eiver, the slotted stem is placed inwardly to unseat the valve 3T allowing the gas to escape from the chamber 5A past said valve 37, around the loose titting valve stern 39 to the at 'iosphere The construction of the device de Y e iniflat ing device deiz ribed in my previous patent and such construction is essential only the Y en'ibodinfient of the invent-ion heretofore referred to. The crux oit tbc present invention resides in the connection between the operated member 8 and the receiver. By thisY than the pressure of the vgas in the passages from the hose nipple 3 to hose nipple 5 and gas in the hose nipple 5, said means comprising a jet forming member 42 which is inserted in a recess 43 formed in the-.inner end of the hose nipple 5. Said member 42 is provided With cylindrical Walls 44 itting tightly With the Walls ot the recess 43 in the hose nipple 5 and the inner end of the jet forming member 42 is substantially closed, being provided with an orice 45 aligning With the bore ot' the hose nipple 5 and of a diameter relatively smaller than the diameter or the bore ot said hose nipple `5 adjacent the orifice 45. The et `forming mem ber 42 is further provided with inwardly pressed lugs 4G which engage the base Wall oit the recess 43 and maintain the closed end of the jet forming member 42 slightly spaced therefrom.l There thus exists a chamber -47 between the jet forming member 42 and the hose nipple 5. Said chamber conununicates vthrough a lateral -duct48 in the hose nipple `5 with a passage 49extending vertically in the body l ot the device. Said passage 40, in turn, communicates through a lateral Way 50 with the gas operated member 16.

VVit-hin the jet forming member 42 isprovided a jet increasing member 51 ivhichis substantially disc shaped and is forced tightly Within the cylindrical. Walls-44 ot the member 42 until it is close to the closed end of said member, lugs 52 being pressed inwardly from the jet increasing 4member 51 to hold the same spaced from the jet torming member 42. Near the periphery of the member 5l is provided. a number o't openings 53 through which the air or gas flowing through the device pass .ivhile `flowing from the passage 30 to the hose nipple 5. In use the hose 6 is attached to the gas rcceiver such as a tire to be inflated in which case the end ot the hose nipple 5 is provided with a. coupling device which Will serve to unseat the tire valve. the construction of such devices novv being Well .understood in the art. Atsuch time a portion of the gas in the gas receiver will How back into the hose 6 through the chamber 47. duct 48, passage 49.

AWay 50, to the bore ot the eXpa usion tube 15 of the gasoperated member 8 and a reading may then be had of the degree ot pressure in the gas receiver. The lever 32 is then depressed engaging the stem 3l to rnseat the gas supply valve 24. rfhe gas ivill then flow through the device to and through the openings 53 of the jet increasing member 51 through the orifice 45 in the jetV forming member 42 and to and throughthe hose nipple 5. The passage of air through the ori-V Y chamber 47, thus causing such chamber 47 to be a zone oit pressure lower than the pressure flowing through the bore of the nipple 5 or other passage-Ways through the device and thus prevents an excessive pressure being applied to the gas operated member 8 thereby7 eliminating the undue Wear upon said member and permitting the use or' a more accurate member for indicating pressure than can be employed Where the full pressure of the gas or air flowing through the device is` applied to the gas operated member. The member 5l increases the jetting effect through the orifice 45 by causing the gas to flow in converging paths towards the orifice 45 and thus the jet or stream ot gas beyond the oriiice 45 is converging and an increased suction effect or reduction ot the pressure in the zone'47 is effected. The pressure in the Zone 4T is dependent upon the velocity of the flow ot' air through the jet `forming member 42 and orince 45 andv thus is not dependent upon the air pressure in. the gas or air supplyto the device, but the pressure in said Zone 47 is effected by the pressure in the gas receiving member or the tire to be inflated by the device. ln iact, it is found that the pressure of such zone 47 is substantially unaffected by the pressure of the gas supplyto the device and corresponds in magnitude with the pressure in the gas receiver.

Fig. 7 illustrates a diagram ot the pressure at the zone 47 as indicated by the gas operated member 8, With varying pressures in the gas receiver. From said diagram it appears that vvith the pressure in the tire or receiver at 40 poundsl the pressure indicated by the member 8 when the gas or air is continuously flowing through the device is 3T- pounds, i. e. 3 pounds lov-.fer than the pressure in the tire receiver. Then the pressure in .the tire receiver becomes l0() pounds the pressure indicated by the member S .is 9T pounds thus showing that the gage pressure corresponds substantially with the pressure ot thc gas receiver. (An increase of (50 pminds in the gas r ceiver. causing a corresponding increase ot GO pounds in the zone 47.) This diagram is obtained from actual use ot the device and when the device was connected to a tank maitained at a pressure of 180 poundsA A large variation in the pressure of the gas supply such as GO pounds causes but a. very slight variation. in the pressure of the zone 47 which still substantially correspondsto the gas pressure in the gas receiver. This variation with a diliierent pressure Was found not to exceed 7 pounds. Tirhere the zone 47 is said to be at a pressure corresponding tothe pressure in the gas receiver this does not necessarily imply that the pressure of the zone 47 will be exactly or substantially equal to the pressure in the gas receiver7 but `simply means that, a change of a. certain number ot pounds in the pressure of the gas receiver Will produce substantially the same liu) lll

,the nipple 5 is change iu pounds in the :zone fili'. 3v varying the ratio between the oiemeter of the orifice 45 and the smell bore of the nipple 5 and by such ineens as the ci 'incrcusi meniber 51, the pressure in the Zone 4:7 bo caused to vary. 'lhus4 for a pi ure in the` gus receiver oi 5G pou 'i sU cor pending pressure in the gage might .indicate for example 2O pounds or O poundi. lilith each construction the device, hover r. thereafter an increase of? certz, pounds in the ges rc^ spending` increase in tf., A

I heve found it, however, e5 cal (es shown oy lli-p5. i) to correctly7 preportion the relutive dieu ter ot the orifice ifi, small here of the nii ne und the con truc tion oi the member ,f so th `t it of the receiver' the pi c ot the tire will be stilistantiailjvv c thereto. The exact construction or r' rortion l'ictveeu such diameters will, in the nature of the coupliu of the hose or conduit (S h and the receiver, and applied to other uses und other i pling devices, and conduits t3 such ,v may be varied. By actuallj,T teitinjr veriouz; size jet forming members l2 und Yiet iurrresing,r member hl, the correct co such members muy be detern otherl analogous uses of 'the d device is to be employed v c with su ch tire con pling devices as are d\-,scribe 'l in mv .latent No. 1,385,080, patented July i9, lQQl, l have found that if the diameter oit smaller here o inches and the diametriof the. orifice 1li-5 is .fl 13 incl es. the member S will follow the line shown in 7 ein, this Without the use of the iet incVJ r fr member 5l, the use oit seid member optional and not essentiel to the device.

The apparatus thus described operates iu accordance with the following princi'jilee. when it is so constructed es to form e. Zoe. of pressure :it the point 4h?, which eqrul to the pressure in the receiver or will be e continuous decreuse in irri duit having; a lai through the member 51 permits e, deci. the velocity ot tlie fluid or ing increase in pressure, for a maximum pressure point short v after leaves the member 5l. ylhei rom thei i is another gradual decrease in pressure fron"` this maximum point up to t" e restriction formed by the vulve olii' the re, :it which valve there is another abrupt drop in l,- sure. The in pressure of the fluid after it leaves the restriction fcrmed by ber o1 is proportional to the square of the quantity of fluid per minute which is flowing through the conduit. The rise in pressure is also determined by constant, herein called a restriction constant, whose velue d epcuds upon the arees of the restriction and conduit at f1 point spr-ced slightly from the restriction in the directiffrn of the tire. By varying the ureas; of the res'riction and eceut portion et the conduit, the numerical value et this constant can be changed, as desired. T he drop in p ressure from the high pressure point between the restriction and receiver also proportional. to the square the quantity of fluid flowinsoi` through the receiver and to a constant whose value depends upon the length and diz?. meter of the conduit between the re riction and velue stem and the charac-ter und diameter ot' the vulve stem of the automobile tire. lt will thus be seen that bj,v a proper design of the :eine of the restriction at 51 in relation to the conduit und usual i'i stem of a tire, the rise of pressure o fluid iowingthrough the conduit Veen the source and receiver ulcr the .fluid leaves the restriction et 51, cm be nur/de to eq Kal exactly the drop in pre-sure in seid fluid from said point into the receiver', with the result that the pressure Y the restriction 51 will he equal to the pressure in the tire receiver and that this rehitionsl'iip is entirely independent of the pressures in the source or receiver' and the rute of flow of the fluid through the connecting` conduit. The constant detern'iininnl the drop in pressure in the fluid between the restriction Bland the receiver is termed herein a doivn-hill constant.

W'hile I have herein described this invention es particularlyY adapted 'for the construction of a tire inflating device and have shown the zone 47 connected with a pressure gauge, it'is understood that tli'e device may he emplovcd for controllingr the flow of `varifrom vurious gus supplies to various pas receivers and it is not intended to limit the invention either to its use as an inflating; device or limit the invention to an embodiment having the Zone 4T connected to a pressure page, various other devices or members actuated air or gas pressure adir.

may be connected to said zone 47 and irn-Y provements in the function of operation of such devicesl will be obtained.

Thus, in Figure 8 I have illustrated a modified form of invention in which'in place of a pressure gage I here substituted an-.

cates vvith the bore 7 oi the body l. 56r

indicates a ball valve pressed against the Way 50, leading from the zone 47, by a coiled Spring 57. Thus the ball 56 normally closes the Way 50, and air or can not reach the Whistle opening 55. llhen the pressure in the sone 47 becomes su'tlicient to overcome the tension ot' the spring 57, gas or air forces the ball 56 from the passage 50 and causes a Whistlingl noise at the Whistle opening In' the Whistling device 5i l have shown a form whereby the tension ot the spring 57 may be regulated to maintain the ball 56 closing the' passage 50 until any desiredpressure is applied thereto, and thus have provided means whereby the device may auto-v matically Whistle when the pressure desired in the gas receiver has been reached. For this purpose, the coil spring 57 seats on a head 58 engaged by a pin 59 extending 'from the outer end oa tubular sleeve 60. rllhe sleeve 60 is provided on its inner end With threads 6l engaging threads 'iroin one of the inner Walls of the bore 7 or the body l. The outer tace of the sleeve 60 is provided with indications 62, which are adapted to be successively vievved through an opening 63. provided in the body l. The indications G2 are made to indicate the pressure in the gas receiver necessary to cause the Whistle opening 55 to be set in operation. lt is thus seen that the use of an air gage is not essential to the operation of the device.

Another important advantage of this invention is that any lubricant present in the i'loiving gas is jetted past the zone i? and does not Worlr up into the gas operated member 8.' ln this manner the deterioration of the member 8 from lubricant Working thereinto is avoided.

Vihilev I have herein illustrated the invention as particularly directed to the use of a tire intlating device, it is to be understood that -such is but a preferred embodiment of the invention and the invention is not limited to the preferred embodimentnor to the details of construction or parts, as the same may be varied Without departing from the spirit of the invention.- This invention includes such changes in construction and arrangement of parts as will appear to those skilled in the art and is of the scope set forth in the accompanying claims.

l, claim:

l. A. device to control the flow of gas from a gas supply to a gas receiver comprising a conduit through which fluid may flow from said gas supply to said receiver, an element in said conduit having an aperture Which is restricted as compared Withthe bore ot the conduit so as to produce a jet therein, and a fluid-operated member in communication with the zone otlloiv pressure established by said jet.

2. A device to control the iovv of gas from a gas supply to a gas receiver comprising a conduit through which iluid may flow 'from said supply to said receiver, an element in said conduit having an aperture which is restricted compared with the bore of the conduit so as to produce a jet therein, said device constructed to form a space in communication With said jet in which a zone of relatively Lou' pressure is produced by said jet, and a pressure gage having a closed connection with said space, the restriction of said aperture being so proportioned to the bore of the conduit between the aperture and the receiver, and to the tire valve ope ing that the zone of relatively loW pressure is substantially equal to the pressure in the tire independent oi' variations ot pressure in the source of pressure.

3. il. device to control the ilovv of gas from a gas supplj.' Lo a tire comprising a conduit, an element in said conduit having an aperture therethrough 'which is restricted relatively to the bore of said conduit and adapted to produce a jet, said device constructed With a space adjacent the jet in which a reduced pressure Zone is established, the bore oi said conduit being ot' larger diameter than said aperture for a distance immediately beyond the aperture, and thence being of still larger diameter, and a pressure in communication With said space, the parts being so proportioned relatively to each other and to the valve aperture of a tire to be inflated that the pressure in the reduced pressure zone, will be substantially the same as the tire pressure independent of the pressure ot the gas supply.

A device to control the flow of gas from a gas supply to a gas receiver comprising a conduit, a device in said conduit having an aperture restricted relatively to the size of the interior of said conduit beyond said restriction to produce a jet therein, whereby a Zone of relatively lovv pressure' is produced by said jet, a disk spaced from said jet-producing device and having apertures therein arranged outside the first-named aperture for increasing the jetting eiiect thereof by causing the gas to flow in converging paths ltowards the jet produced by said irst-named aperture, and a pressure gage having a closed connection with the low-pressure zone space adjacent said jets.

Signed at Los Angeles, California, this 11th day ot October, 1923.

JAMES FRANCIS KEY. 

